The King and Queen visit Kalmar County — watch a film here

The King and Queen walk through Oskarshamn. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/Scanpix

On Tuesday 5 March, The King and Queen's county visits began with a trip to Kalmar County.

After their visit to Kalmar County, The King and Queen said: "We received a fantastic welcome in Oskarshamn, with streets lined with people and beautiful weather. The planning for our county visits has taken a long time, and it feels good to have finally started the first visit. It was inspiring to meet and speak with so many local driving forces today, and to see examples of all the positive initiatives that are being taken around the county."

The King gives a speech at Kalmar Cathedral. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/Scanpix

17:01 The King gave his speech at Kalmar Cathedral. An extract from The King's speech: It has been very pleasing to see all the great initiatives and your energy. Keep this up in your future work. Together, you have succeeded in finding solutions and developing your society to become what it is today.

The programme for the musical service at Kalmar Cathedral. Photo: royalcourt.se

16:08 The King and Queen arrived at Kalmar Cathedral, which was designed by the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder.

Kalmar CathedralKalmar Cathedral is one of Northern Europe's foremost baroque churches, and dominates the square of Stortorget with its fine architecture. Construction began in 1660, and was completed in 1703.

Kalmar Maritime Academy at Linnaeus UniversitySweden's first paddle steamer, the Amphitrite, began to cross Lake Mälaren between Stockholm, Västerås and Uppsala in 1818. Emanuel Ingelström was born that same year. Twenty-three years later, he started his captain's studies at Kalmar Maritime Academy, which was then known as the School of Navigation. After three years of studying, Ingelström and his five classmates became the very first class to graduate from the institution.Find out more about Kalmar Maritime Academy at Linnaeus University here. 14:46 Pro-Rector Lena Fritzén spoke about Linnaeus University.

Filmmaker Richard Lundgren and Professor Johan Rönnby tell The King and Queen about research into shipwrecks in the Kalmar Sound. Photo: royalcourt.se

14:21 Professor of Marine Ecology Johan Rönnby and filmmaker Richard Lundgren gave a brief talk on marine archaeology entitled "Hidden under the surface in Kalmar County", about shipwrecks in the Kalmar Sound. They spoke about Kronan and Svärdet, the biggest marine archaeology projects in the world. The ship Mars, which was discovered in summer 2012, sank during an intense two-day naval battle in 1564. There are now plans for a national maritime reserve, where research and wreck preservation will be carried out together. 13:48 Lena Fritzén, Pro-Rector of Linnaeus University, welcomed The King and Queen to the lunch held at Kalmar Maritime Academy.

The King and Queen are welcomed to Kalmar Maritime Academy at Linnaeus University in Kalmar. Photo: royalcourt.se

13:41 The King and Queen arrived at Kalmar Maritime Academy. 12:33 A tour of Strömsrum Estate began, hosted by the owners.

The King and Queen are welcomed to Mönsterås Municipality and Strömsrum Estate by Municipal Commissioner Roland Åkesson and Baron Thomas Rappe. Photo: royalcourt.se

About Strömsrum The first mention of Strömsrum dates from 1312. Johan Skytte bought the property in 1622. His grandson, Gustav Adolf Skytte, who was born in 1637, used the castle as the base for the piracy that he, his sister Anna and his brother-in-law Gustaf Drake af Hagelsrum carried out in the Baltic Sea between 1657 and 1661. This true story was recounted by Viktor Rydberg in The Freebooter of the Baltic (1857). Gustaf Adolf Skytte was executed by firing squad early in the morning of 27 April 1663 on Jönköping Square. The estate has been owned by the Rappe family since the end of the 18th century. Today, this is a modern estate which uses hydroelectric power and wind power, and the owner Baron Thomas Rappe takes a great interest in the environment. 11:54 County Governor Stefan Carlsson was interviewed on the bus to Mönsterås. How has the visit gone so far? "It's gone very well so far. The weather is on our side, and there were so many people in Oskarshamn — it was wonderful. And it felt like The King and Queen were particularly interested in the environmental issues discussed at the town hall, which was meaningful." Tell us about the planning for the visit "I wanted to show the whole of the county, not just Kalmar itself. I also thought about which issues The King and Queen were interested in, so there was a focus on the environmental work taking place in the county."

Everyone wanted to take photographs in Oskarshamn. Photo: royalcourt.se

11:40 Development Manager Lars Ljung showed a commemorative medallion of the city's founder, King Oskar I.

The King and Queen on Lilla Torget in the centre of Oskarshamn. In the background is the commemorative medallion of the city's founder, King Oskar I. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/Scanpix

The King Oscar I memorial and commemorative medallion Konung Oscar I Plats on Lilla Torget in the centre of Oskarshamn was opened in connection with Oskarshamn's 150th anniversary celebrations in 2006. Since then, there has been a commemorative medallion of the town's founder at this site. The medallion is an enlargement of King Oscar I's coin. It is 40 centimetres in diameter, and was made in bronze by artist Gösta Holmer from Blankaholm.

The King and Queen walk through Oskarshamn. Photo: royalcourt.se

11:08 The King and Queen arrived at Lilla Torget. At least 1,500 local residents were waiting in the square.

10:36 Town Planning Manager Bodil Liedberg Jönsson spoke about the need for 500-1,500 new homes in Oskarshamn. The harbour is the heart of the town, and moving the Gotland ferry terminal will free up large areas of the harbour for housing. The preparations for the new harbour area began in 2012. The citizens of Oskarshamn were invited to share their opinions on the future of the harbour. Three parallel architectural competitions for the area will be launched this summer. A project is also being carried out to recapture and create local trading in Oskarshamn. 10:17 Project Manager Rolf Persson explained about Sweden's biggest harbour project: clearing the sediment from Oskarshamn Harbour.

Project Manager Rolf Persson tells The King and Queen about one of Sweden's biggest clean-up projects. Photo: royalcourt.se

The clean-up project in Oskarshamn Harbour This is one of Sweden's biggest clean-up projects. The sediment at the bottom of Oskarshamn Harbour is one of the most polluted areas in Sweden, with high levels of heavy metals and organic environmental toxins. Oskarshamn Municipality is now carrying out a clean-up project. 10:01 Municipal Director Ann-Christine Vösu from Oskarshamn Municipality talked about the work involved in the vision to become an international energy centre.

The King and Queen arrive at Oskarshamn Town Hall. Photo: royalcourt.se

09:50 The King and Queen visited Oskarshamn Town Hall.

Children waving flags welcome The King and Queen to Oskarshamn. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/Scanpix

09:37 The King and Queen arrived at Oskarshamn, where they were met by County Governor Stefan Carlsson. Oskarshamn In 1785, the earliest recorded application to grant a town charter was submitted to the then King Gustav III. The application was refused, but was followed by a number of new applications during the 18th and 19th centuries. It was only after the ninth application that the town charter was finally granted in 1856. Döderhultsvik then changed its name to the current name of Oskarshamn, in honour of the then King Oscar I.

The King and Queen are welcomed to Oskarshamn by County Governor Stefan Carlsson. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/Scanpix

The programme for The King and Queen's visit on Tuesday 5 March

09:30 The King and Queen arrive at Oskarshamn, where they are welcomed by County Governor Stefan Carlsson. 10:00 The King and Queen visit Oskarshamn Town Hall. 11:00 Tour of Oskarshamn, starting at Lilla Torget. 12:00 The King and Queen visit Strömsrum Estate in Mönsterås Municipality. 13:30 The King and Queen visit Kalmar Maritime Academy. 16:00 The King and Queen walk to Kalmar Cathedral, where they are met by Priest Peter Wänehag who tells them about the interior restoration of the cathedral. Choirs and musicians then perform, and The King gives a speech to the inhabitants of Kalmar County. The day in Kalmar County concludes with dinner at the County Governor's official residence.

County visits 2013

In connection with The King's 40th jubilee, The King and Queen will be visiting all of Sweden's 21 counties during the year.